Stew Smith Fitness News

Here is a question I get often concerning the way a person prepares for Special Ops type training programs for both military and law enforcement SWAT teams. My answer is usually, “It depends - Not only on the training you seek, but your athletic history / background.” Here is his question and my lengthy answer that takes many of the body types and foundation of fitness issues that arise when people start a training plan for Spec Ops.Stew I'm going to guess you've already answered this question somewhere, so forgive my redundancy. I'm 27 and looking to get into the...

by Stew SmithA future Special Ops Soldier asks:"I am not sure which branch of service I would like to join, but I do know I want to do something in the Special Ops. Which one is the toughest and best trained?"This is the question I normally do not answer as the only people, in my opinion, who can answer which training programs are the best or toughest are those who have done them all. We all have opinions on which are the hardest and they are usually the ones we selected so any answer you get is going to be...

Do you think you have what is takes to become a member of Naval Special Warfare or Special Operations? You have several choices now! As of October 2006, the Navy changed the way SEAL Teams, SEAL recruits, and all the branches of Naval Special Warfare/Operations do business. Now, SEAL enlisted personnel no longer have to select Source ratings (i.e. BM, RM, GM etc) and learn a job that they will not practice as SEAL operators. Now, the Special Warfare and Special Operations communities have their own rating source codes.   To be a member of Naval Special Warfare/Operations community, you...

Every now and then I get a question that requires extra effort to answer. This question required every bit of experience I had to answer. If you are on the fence of how or where to serve your country, please read.Stew - I am debating where to serve? Firefighting EMT, Police SWAT, or Military Special Ops. I know you write about all of them - do you have any advice on what you'd recommend? I am trying to do a workout that would help prepare me for all of them as I have about a year before I need to...

Recent Special Operations in the news as well as the Act of Valor movie about Navy SEALs has prompted many people to ask my opinion. Though this is not my profession and area of expertise, I do have an opinion and it may surprise many who ask: "What is your opinion of the movie Act of Valor using active duty Navy SEALs and recent publicity in the news?"I like to think, someone much smarter than I has already figured this out and all of this is likely current doctrine or a PSYOPS program for all I know. After recent events...